Nutrition Sciences

Nutrition Sciences

Mission Statement

The mission of the Nutrition Sciences Didactic Program at Baylor University is to provide a high-quality general dietetic education in a Christian environment, equipping graduates to be qualified to enter an accredited dietetic internship program necessary to become Registered Dietitians. Graduates will be prepared to work in a variety of positions that address the food, nutritional and health needs of families, individuals and communities in local and global environments.

Goals

The Didactic Program at Baylor University will provide education experiences that transfer knowledge, skills and competencies required for entry into a dietetic internship (supervised practice program).

To develop professional nutrition and dietetics leaders that support the nutritional needs of local and global communities.

Objectives

Application Rate: Upon completion of the Didactic program at Baylor University Concentration Pre-dietetics or pre-dietetics students, will have an application rate of 60% into an ACEND accredited dietetic internship within 12 months following graduation.

Acceptance Rate: Upon graduation from the Didactic Program at Baylor University, of the 60% who apply to an accredited dietetic internship 80% will be accepted within 12 months following graduation.

Based on students who begin the Didactic Program in their junior year, 80% will complete the program requirements within three years and be eligible to receive a Verification Statement of Completion of Didactic Program in Dietetics.

Upon completion of a dietetic internship at least 85% of all graduates will pass the RD exam on their first attempt.

Dietetic internship directors will evaluate 75% of Baylor graduates as strongly agree or agree regarding their performance during the internship and their knowledge of nutrition and food service.

Overview

Nutrition Sciences is the study of food, its components and how the body handles food substances. In this major, you'll explore how nutrients, and the foods from which they are derived, aid the body in growth and development and in maintaining health and wellness. You'll have a chance to see how concepts from microbiology and chemistry impact food preparation and safety.

The Pre-Dietetics program, accredited by the Accreditation Counsel for Education and Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), provides the necessary course work that make students eligible to apply for an accredited dietetics internship after graduation. Completion of a dietetic internship is necessary in order to be eligible to take the national registration exam for nutrition and dietetics, overseen by the Commission of Dietetic Registration, to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).

Pre-health Care and Food Management majors have a similar preparation in food and nutrition as the pre-dietetics students, but with some flexibility to choose courses according to their personal interest of study. Graduates with this degree can enter the field of clinical dietetics (if pre-dietetics), medicine, food management, food research and development, school food service, health promotion, diet counseling, and health care.

All students in these majors take a significant amount of basic science courses, to provide the necessary scientific foundation for their nutrition and dietetics careers.

Complaint Related to the Program

A student enrolled in the Baylor DPD pre-dietetics program who has a complaint related to the program can file a complaint with the DPD Director. The complaint should be in writing and submitted in a sealed envelope to the DPD Director. The complaint must be signed by the person submitting.

The DPD director will meet with the student and pursue avenues to resolve the complaint. If the student is not satisfied the DPD director will present the complaint to the Department Chair. The Chair then will attempt to resolve the issue and then if not satisfied the complaint will be presented to the Dean of the College. If the student is still not satisfied the following Baylor University Grievance Policy process will be followed.

The student can confidently bring these concerns being assured that retaliation will not occur in anyway to the student. The department chair will coordinate these activities, gaining assurance from affected parties that no retaliation will occur.